Inspection of Child Protection Services

The need for an inspection of Child Protection Services in Northern
Ireland was identified during the consultation on the former Social Services Inspectorate’s inspection
programme for 2002 - 2005. The inspection continued into 2006 as a 5th Trust was added to the
programme.

The reports arising from the inspection identify many areas of good
practice and good quality work undertaken by highly motivated staff who are working in extremely pressurised
and high risk situations, in both fieldwork and residential children’s services. The reports have
sought to identify both what is working well and where improvements are still needed. Severe pressures
and difficulties were, however, identified across the HSC Board and Trusts with systematic failures
in a number of Trusts in the discharge of statutory functions and a lack of appropriate safeguards for
children within fieldwork and residential settings.

The reports, with their recommendations to the Board, Trusts, key agencies
and Government Departments, together with the draft standards provide a clear and coherent framework
for the future provision of robust, high quality child protection services.

The final child protection standards were issued in July 2008. The
child protection standards are applicable to all public bodies, organisations, professionals and persons
who provide statutory services to children. They also establish a framework of best practice in
child protection for voluntary, community and independent sector organisations and practitioners (including
counsellors and therapists working in a private capacity) who work with or have significant contact
with children and young people. They should also help families and members of the public understand
how services work to protect children and the important contribution they themselves can make to the
safeguarding of children and young people. The standards can be accessed at: